fireplace

American  

[fahyuhr-pleys] / ˈfaɪərˌpleɪs /

noun

1. the part of a chimney that opens into a room and in which fuel is burned; hearth.

2. any open structure, usually of masonry, for keeping a fire, as at a campsite.

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fireplace British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌpleɪs /

noun

1. an open recess in a wall of a room, at the base of a chimney, etc, for a fire; hearth

2. an authorized place or installation for outside cooking, esp by a roadside

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Etymology

Origin of fireplace

First recorded in 1645–55; fire + place

Example Sentences

Adjacent to the foyer is the living area, which features a cozy fireplace, dark wooden floors, and black French doors that allow natural light to flood inside.

From MarketWatch

To help a shivering Cathy, Heathcliff rises from his wooden seat, smashes it on the floor and tosses the pieces into the fireplace.

From Los Angeles Times

His new foster family, the Finnegans, seemed nice enough if you only looked at the photos on the fireplace mantel—a mother, a father, and two kids of their own.

From Literature

Every single plan I’d made went scampering over to the fireplace, shot up the chimney, and disappeared into the sky.

From Literature

The camping guidebook referred to Magpie Island as a “primitive facility” which meant the hiking trails and campsites were cleared, but there was no water available and no picnic tables or fireplaces.

From Literature

Related Words

• chimney
• furnace
• stove